Thursday, July 14, 2016

This Summer Netflix taps into our nostalgia for the 80s with its new original series Stranger Things.

No stranger to supernatural shenanigans after writing episodes of Fox's Wayward Pines, Matt and Ross Duffer mashup a little Steven Spielberg and Stephen King for their coming-of-age drama set in the 1980s.

Adding to the nostalgia fest is Winona Ryder, star of late-80s cult classics Heathers and Beetlejuice, playing the slightly unstable small-town Indiana mother of a boy mysteriously abducted on his way home from playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends.

Escaped research experiments, supernatural goings-on, kids on a Goonies-like adventure, what more could you ask for in a binge-worthy series (even the twinkly title logo is reminiscent of Lucasfilm's logo).

These throwback style series launch billboards for the series were photographed along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and West L.A. on July 11, plus along Melrose Avenue on July 13, 2016 (the illustrated version was created byKyle Lambert).
Let's hope Stranger Things can scare up some real surprises and doesn't rely on too many homages or blatant rip-offs of the genre it professes to idolise.

The real question is whether you'll be able to get the chance to watch the show before someone spoils all of its mysteries on social media.UPDATED: Not only was Stranger Things a nostalgic hit with Netflix subscribers, but it was also a critical success.

In addition to the show garnering two Golden Globe nominations, it also has three SAG Award nominations, for Best Ensemble Cast, plus nods for Millie Bobby Brown and Winona Ryder for Best Female Actor in a Drama Series.

These awards consideration billboards were first spied along the Sunset Strip on January 17, then later along Wilshire Boulevard on January 21, 2017.

UPDATED: Here's also some awards consideration extra support for Winona Ryder's TV comeback, snapped along Fairfax Avenue at Beverly Boulevard on January 26, 2017.UPDATED: Stranger Things debut season has had a pretty great critical reception, nabbing Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series at the SAG Awards, so let's see how it fares at this year's Emmys. To help their chances, here's an Emmy consideration billboard spied along L.A.'s 3rd Street on May 18, 2017.
Plus here's a larger landscape version spotted above La Brea Avenue on May 23, 2017.UPDATED: Netflix is certainly going all out to support Stranger Thingsthis Emmy season as evidenced by this fantastic 'For your consideration' neon sign in the style of the show's signature retro title.

This spectacular billboard installation was snapped along West Hollywood's eastbound Sunset Strip atop the Whisky A Go-Go club by day and night on June 2, 2017.

Now if that stunt gimmick doesn't catch the attention of passing Emmy voters, we don't know what will.UPDATED: That special neon sign billboard must have done the trick as Stranger Things garnered a whopping eighteen Emmy nominations for its debut season.
Here's a standard landscape billboard highlighting its '18 Emmy Nominations' snapped along Melrose Avenue at La Brea Avenue on August 2, 2017.

Plus here are more outdoor ads in the Emmy campaign featuring the series adorable kids, with Millie Bobby Brown receiving a nomination for her role as 'Eleven'.

Plus rather surprisingly to everyone, Shannon Purser received a nod for her role as 'Barb Holland', highlighting the pop culture impact of this series.

These Emmy nominations billboards were photographed along the Sunset Strip, Hollywood Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue on August 8, 2017 and the next day.
Plus here's also a smaller version of the 18 Emmy Nominations billboard spotted along L.A.'s 3rd Street on August 10, 2017, and no show title is necessary with that instantly recognisable font.